Game 31 Recap: Jazz 111 Blazers 101

by Dave on Dec 31, 2007 8:02 PM PST in News

Good evening, Blazers fans. This is Ben filling in for Dave tonight. Let's get straight to the post-game and, sadly, post-streak discussion.

Boxscore

The streak is over... Fire Demopoulos! Only kidding, of course, Coach D filled in admirably and had the Blazers playing full-throttle even though they seemed to be running on empty down the stretch tonight. Those 3 pointers that come up just a bit short are always the giveaway.

Unlike last night's game against the Sixers, which left mouths agape and left many grasping for words, tonight's game had almost too much going on.

Some food for thought and discussion:

-- Aldridge's career high. A thing of beauty. Many jump hooks of beauty. When should we start expecting 25 PPG? Wednesday?

-- Tons of interesting matchups on these rosters: Outlaw vs. Millsap, Aldridge vs. Boozer, Okur vs. Przy, Brandon vs. AK47 down the stretch, their energetic bench vs. our energetic bench, and beginning today, James Jones vs. Kyle Korver. Despite the loss tonight, I'm convinced the Blazers are the more talented team top to bottom, but it's only by a hair.

-- Is Roy's elbow injury serious? He was holding and flexing his elbow strangely which caused my heart to skip about 40 beats. He played through it -- of course he did-- but I hope he doesn't miss any time in upcoming games because of it. We need him 100% healthy for this upcoming road trip.

-- Did the Jazz do anything tonight that is cause for concern for the Blazers? They roughed us up a bit and mucked the game up. They hit the boards on both ends. They jumped our dribblers which caused a fair number of problems. They got some favorable calls. They defended their homecourt. At this moment, I'm most worried about that last one but maybe you feel differently.

-- On a scale of 1 to 10, how ready are you for some revenge on Saturday?

-- Now that the streak is but a glorious memory, what were your favorite moments? There's Brandon's Jordanesque move and Outlaw's unbelievable buzzer beater. Aside from those two, the one that sticks out was another Outlaw moment - the game-ending block against the Nuggets. It was the loudest I've heard the Rose Garden this year and its memory will tide me over through the January road trip doldrums.

One-Sentence Game Summary:

There is no shame in losing the second half of a back-to-back home-and-away against a quality opponent that was killing itself for the victory.

-- Ben

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Comments

Aldridge was awesome tonight!!!!

I ridiculed him for his back to the basket play a few games ago and this is what I wanted to see. They established LMA as a low post presence religiously tonight. I honestly think LMA got twice as many touches tonight as he has in any game this year(maybe dean's influence??). In any case, two thumbs up for aldridge, but ya got to get on the boards big fella, that killed us tonight. All in all, bad officiating cost us the game in my opinion. We couldnt draw a charge for the life of us and that is something that has gone our way all streak long...

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Dec 31, 2007 8:26 PM PST reply actions

Thanks Ben

I don't really have a favorite moment. I just enjoyed the ride. The players and coaches were everything I thought they could be and more.

The streak changed perspectives. I do not know what the future holds but I cannot wait for the next game. Thanks to the streak, it is now about this season. Next season and the draft will come, but I can't stop thinking about tomorrow.

Go Blazers!

"When you're pushed... Killing's as easy as breathing." - Josh McRoberts

by tominhawaii on Dec 31, 2007 8:38 PM PST reply actions

Slight expansion...

"There is no shame in losing the second half of a back-to-back home-and-away against a quality opponent that was killing itself for the victory..."

...when you're without your head coach, and are playing a team that is 10-3 on their home court and you've already beaten twice in the streak.

Seriously, I'm almost relieved the streak is over. Now we can stop talking about streaks, and start talking about how well the team is playing overall, and concentrate on more important goals than extending an exciting, but ultimately meaningless, series of wins.

by Majikj0n on Dec 31, 2007 8:47 PM PST reply actions

OscarM

I doubt that Utah's played a better game this year. Sometimes you just get beat and that happened tonight. I can't fault the effort at all.

One thing I noticed, though, was how little Joel played. We were really getting hammered and could have used his presence.

Time to gear up for the next one.

by OscarM on Dec 31, 2007 9:12 PM PST reply actions

Joel not playing is Nate's fault

If he would have picked someone besides Demopoulos to coach the game, that other coach would have played Joel more.

"When you're pushed... Killing's as easy as breathing." - Josh McRoberts

by tominhawaii on Dec 31, 2007 9:17 PM PST up reply actions

In the end Okur

was also not playing (per the sportsline.com). Okur played 22 minutes and Joel played 16. Neither were a factor in the end. When teams are beating us with quickness can we afford to have Joel in there? Joel was removed shortly after getting the 3-second violation (4 minutes left). Okur was removed after getting a technical (8 minutes left). In both cases the game was still close.

by lee3022 on Dec 31, 2007 9:27 PM PST up reply actions

okur was on the way off the court with foul troubl

e when he got the technical

by DominicanAvenger on Jan 1, 2008 7:20 AM PST up reply actions

Milsap owned our front line

It's great to see one of the teams' budding starts break out for an awesome offensive performance but when Joel is not getting minutes, our other bigs HAVE to step up their rebounding efforts, especially against a team that is built from the inside out like Utah. While 36 points out of LMA is nice, the Blazers have other offensive weapons that can put the ball in the hoop, but our backcourt relies on our bigs to box out and grab boards. When JJ is our leading rebounder something is seriously flawed.

When Joel was motioned to the bench after two quickies in the first, Utah smelled blood and attacked without relent. I don't care who we put Joel on, Boozer, Okur, Milsap, even if he is a step slower, the team actually plays pretty good help-D. That is where Outlaw and LMA excel. Joel is the only player on our roster than has an imposing presence in the paint. In games against teams that are built around a big front line, I would expect Joel to play until he fouls out and not him conservatively. I will chalk that up to Nate not being there but this is the NBA and assistant coaches are still making close to if not above seven figs a year. Demo...any rebuttal? What was your mindset in not playing Joel more than 16 minutes?

I have been of the anti-trade mentality all season but games like this one is beginning to change that. We need a player, outside of Joel, that has a nose for the boards and can bang around inside. Right now our front line, outside of Joel, ca n get pushed around. Unless our other forwards can step up the aggressiveness, we need another Brian Grant like player at the SF or PF spot.

by PtownJake on Jan 2, 2008 8:08 AM PST up reply actions

This game was good for us

The intensity was more like a playoff game and we need to learn to play those.

I enjoyed the streak but am not surprised that it is over here. What I am interested is seeing is the maturity of learning from losing and wanting to get back to winning. Minnesota and Chicago are waiting and we need to expect their best shot.

by lee3022 on Dec 31, 2007 9:14 PM PST reply actions

Poor execution leads to loss

We had too many silly mistakes tonight that cost us... Jarret's poor pass in the paint, Blake circling the rim not knowing what to do.

Tonight showed us LMA's ability to carry the Blazers.

It also showed us that we need another athletic big man (Oden).

However, what we need, is more of the team effort that carried us to victories in the past. We just got beat. Lets move on to the next one!

by hotstuffdb22 on Dec 31, 2007 9:45 PM PST reply actions

I was

Watching Shaq's highlights. If Oden can be half the offensive force wow. Portland would really be perennial playoff contenders.

by Dheepan on Dec 31, 2007 10:10 PM PST reply actions

My favorite

My favorite highlight was the Brandon Roy (Jordanesque) lay-in. When they replayed it, I poked my friend in the side, pointed to the jumbotron thingy, and laughed like a little girl.

Really that was sick.

by Replacement Level Poster on Dec 31, 2007 10:55 PM PST reply actions

If we had to lose,

then this is one of the teams I don't really mind so much having to lose to. If we'd lost to Philly, THAT would have killed. But everyone knew that the Jazz were due for a game, and we did get 'em twice already in that streak. Like some others, I'm almost relieved. Maybe the Blazers'll be too - guess we'll find out soon enough.

by MegaPowerBoy on Dec 31, 2007 11:26 PM PST reply actions

Second Game I saw this year

I'm used to watching most of the away games on KGW, Portland.

We are young & need experience. Court awareness & Peripheral vision. Utah seemed to be able to recognize the young defenders they could work in behind, while trying to hold a line of defense, for a uncontested or late to defend score at the rim. On the offense we play too hard to get at open shot at the rim, with two or three defenders to challange us. We have alot more to learn along this season. The Team needs to scout out these sneaky plays & know who stays & who covers the play, who it is & how much help is needed. Know the defense better & how to surprise them.

Thank you for this PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZER BASKETBALL during the month of December & the Holiday Season. It has been more than I hoped for. Extremely entertaining & joyful for the right time of the Year. 2008 offers me more to look forward to than since '78 when I was 28 & didn't expected my Team to disappoint me ever & they didn't, drama happens.

LET'S PARTY LIKE IT'S 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

honkaplayboys.com

by BlueBooYay on Jan 1, 2008 12:45 AM PST reply actions

the loss

I dont think it was just losing...but how we lost. I'm glad it wasnt a blowout or the team giving up. We actually battled and didnt give up for the most part. It was pretty obvious that we looked flat...perhaps from the back to back. I'll take losses like these any day over the losses we endured earlier on in the season.

Early on in the streak we abused teams with the pick and roll. Can someone fill me in on why we havent been going to it lately?

by Philthyanimal on Jan 1, 2008 2:06 AM PST reply actions

The streak had to end sometime...

and Salt Lake City has always been tough--especially on a back to back. So no shame whatsoever there. Mix in Roy's foul trouble and some questionable officiating, and all the ingredients of a "perfect storm" were in place. Everyone loses, and the streak was almost becoming a distraction, I think.

I do think the loss underlined something I've been pointing to for some time: the Blazers' need for a Millsap-esque forward off the bench. Millsap really had his way tonight, shoving Outlaw and the Buffet of Goodness all over the court. Welcome to playoff-style basketball. It tends to get uglified like that, and the Blazers will need another banger or two to cope.

But that's alright. There's plenty of time to add a couple more role players as needed, and I'm sure KP is all over it. For now, I can't be more pleased: the Blazers have wonderful chemistry and are well ahead of schedule. The streak announced to the Celtics, Spurs, & Pistons, "Better get your rings now, because a Blazer dynasty is coming and coming soon!"

"Ime caught the guy in mid-air with a fist and calmly continued his dispatching of oncoming people." -Gabe Muoneke

by hurryup09 on Jan 1, 2008 2:29 AM PST reply actions

Thanks Blazers for a wonderful month!

by TwoDeep on Jan 1, 2008 8:03 AM PST reply actions

This was the game to lose....

...without a doubt. No real surprise in the result, especially with the bench not performing. The next few games have the very real potential for a Blazers bounce back and another handful of wins.

by Anthony Stine on Jan 1, 2008 8:57 AM PST reply actions

Everyone seems happy

despite the loss. I think that's a good sign that the team is showing mega promise. Now let's not turn this into another 1-9 run, like before the streak....

Ladies and Gentlemen, Channing has arrived and the Buffet is open.

by jamon51 on Jan 1, 2008 11:06 AM PST reply actions

I'm not happy about the loss

I think Kyle Korver was part of the answer to the Blazer's zone. I still do not want any more losses. They suck and they hurt my feelings.

"When you're pushed... Killing's as easy as breathing." - Josh McRoberts

by tominhawaii on Jan 1, 2008 11:27 AM PST up reply actions

Here's a tissue

And here's to another 13 game winning streak! :)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Channing has arrived and the Buffet is open.

by jamon51 on Jan 1, 2008 5:10 PM PST up reply actions

Still no TV !!

Having to listen to a fuzzy KXL isn't the
best way to follow the Blazers, but when the
Jazz radio broadcast's ghost comes through on 750,
it is actually comical listening to Hot Rod and
Wheels calling the same game.
COINCAST SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a different note, it was great to hear LMA get untracked offensively. He will get better as he gets stronger(Core), but as of now he needs
to get on the BOARDS! If your PF only has ONE
defensive rebound, it's a recipe for disaster.
Last time the Blazers played Utah, Joel was
guarding Boozer and Blake was great at clamping
down with the double team. Putting Joel on Okur
is stupid, as Okur is a outside shooting center
and should be guarded by LMA. Joel should always
guard Boozer and be in position to defensive
rebound. ???
Come back Sarge. Rebounding drills and a
physical practice anyone ?

It's GO time !

by walkoff41 on Jan 1, 2008 12:57 PM PST reply actions

Gotta toughen up

Can't let physical teams run you over. For the most part the Blazers gotten lucky in avoiding those physical teams so far this season, but the team still needs interior toughness and/or an all-around enforcer.

Still all in all it was a great December. The month puts the team in a decent position to fight for a playoff spot.

by leeroyjenkins on Jan 1, 2008 1:50 PM PST reply actions

Outlaw over Carney

A great punctuation mark for the streak...the best thing about last night was how happy Utah and their fans were to beat the Blazers. A month ago it would've been a ho-hum victory in their book. What a difference a month makes.

by Atomic Dog 71 on Jan 1, 2008 2:49 PM PST reply actions